Rotary motor



Feb. 11, 1941. 9, 555

ROTARY MOTOR Filed April 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l I n venior A florney I'IIIII i D. FESS ROTARY MOTOR Feb. 11, 1941.

Filed April 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 n uenior zon ms' A llomey D. FESS ROTARY MOTOR Feb. 11, 1941.

Filed April 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 In venior A llomey Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Don Fess, Magnolia, Ark. J Application April 22, 1940, Serial No. 331,030

3Clalms.

This invention relates to a rotary motor, the general object of the invention being to provide a circular casing having an eccentric rotor therein with a pair of oppositely arranged pistons carried by the rotor and having members supported for rocking movement in their outer ends and to which members a substantially semi-circular valve member is connected at its ends for controlling the firing chamber port.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accom panying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

v In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote likeor corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a motor constructed in accordance with this invention. 1 Y

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 and with parts in elevation.

Figure 3 is an elevational view looking into one end of the cylinder or circular casing with the cover plate removed.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of-one of the rocker members of a piston and showing a part of the valve forming band attached thereto.

Figure 5 is a view looking toward the notched side of the rocker member.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view showing how the inner end of a shaft is connected to the rotor.

Figure 7 is a view of one of the pins for pressing the piston outwardly.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a piston member.

In these views the numeral I indicates the base of the motor and the numeral 2 indicates a vertically arranged circular casing or cylinder which has a part of its circumference fastened to the base. This casing or cylinder is formed of a rim 2' and the end pieces 3 which are bolted or otherwise fastened to the rim and said rim may be provided with the fins I for cooling purposes or, of course, the device can be cooled in any other suitable manner. The rotor is shown at 5 and is of substantially circular form and a shaft 6 is 50 fastened to each face of the rotor preferably by having a flange 1 formed on the inner end of the shaft with the flange fitting in a recess 8 formed in the face of the rotor and with screws 9 fastening the inner end of each shaft to the rotor. These shafts pass through the end members 3 of the casing or cylinder in an eccentric manner so that the rotoriseccentrically arranged in the casing as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Anti-friction means iii are placed between the shafts and the walls of the openings in the end members 3. A combustion chamber forming member II is fastened to a part of the rim of the casing and the chamber l2 of said member is in communication with the interior of the casing through a port It formed in the rim. The member H has a spark plug I4 which is located in any suitable form of firing or ignition circuit and a tubular member i5 is in communication with thechamber "through a port l6 which is controlled 'by a spring-pressed valve 11 actuated by 15 a cam l8 on one of the shafts 6 engaging a push rod l9 which is connected to a rocker arm 26 supported by a post 2| forming part of the tubu lar member iii, the rocker arm acting to open the valve i! when the pusher rod I9 is forced out-+ wardly by the cam. A spring 22 normally holds the valve f1 closed. The tubular member i5 is connected to a source of explosive mixture under pressure so that when the valve I1 is open an explosive mixture will be introduced into the. 25 chamber l2 and this mixture is fired when a spark is produced by the spark plug It. Exhaust -means 23 are connected with a part of the rim of the casing'and if desired or necessary a second exhaust means 24 can be provided for the casing. 30

A pair of oppositely arra ged and radial slots 24 and 25 is formed in the rotor and a piston 28 isslidably arranged in the slot 25 and a guide slide 21 is movably arranged in the slot 24. Each of these members 26 and 21 is formed with a sub 35 stantially semi-circular recess 28 in its outer end and a block 29 is arranged for rocking movement in each recess 28, each block being of substantially semi-circular shape in cross section and each block can rock in a recess so that it will conform itself to that part of the internal wall of the casing which it contacts. A groove 30 is formed in a portion of the circumference of the rotor and in the middle portion thereof with the groove extending from the slot 24 to the slot 25 and this groove is adapted to receive avmetal band 3| which forms a valve member. One end of this band is fastened in a notch 32 formed in the member 29 of the piston 26 and theother end portion slides through a notch 33 formed in the member 29 of the slide 21 so that the valve member can adjust itself during the rotary movement of the rotor in the casing as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Pins 34 arranged in pairs, are slidably "arranged in holes 35 .formed in the rotor and these pins project into the slots 24 and 26 and are pressed in opposite directions by the coiled springs as in the holes II and enga ing the inner ends of the pins. Thus these springs tend to hold the slide 21 and the piston 26 outwardly with their members 2! contacting the inner circumference of the cylinder or casing and with the valve member ll pressed against a portion of said inner circumference as shown in Figures 1 and 8.

The rotor is cut away to form a recess 86 at the rear side of the piston 26 so that the gases can act on the piston to cause rotary movement of the rotor. f

As will be seen the valve member or band 3i will cover the inlet when it is over such port and when theinlet port It is closed by this memher the parts are timed to open the valve I! so that an explosive mixture will pass into the combustion chamber i2 and then the charge is fired just before the port it is uncovered by the end of the valve member ll which is connected with the piston 26. Thus the gases of combustion rush into the space between the rotor and the cylinder or casing in rear of the piston 26, part of the space being formed by the recess 38 and thus the gases act upon the piston to force the rotor to rotate in a clockwise direction, the gases being prevented from moving in anopposite direction by the adjacent parts of the rotor contacting the adjacent walls of the casing or cylinder, as shown in Figure 1. Thus the rotor is caused to rotate and when the piston 26 and the adjacent end of the valve member 3! pass the exhaust 23 the exhaust gases will pass from the space in rear of the piston 26 into exhaust means. I! all of the exhaust gases are not expelled at this point then they are expelled through the exhaust means 24 by the member 21. As the part of the rotor containing the member 21 approaches the adjacent wall of the casing said member 27 is moved inwardly as is the valve member 3| and finally the parts assume the position shown in Figure 3 and this is permitted by the groove 60 in the rotor receiving part of the valve member 3 I An equalizing port 40 is formed in the rotor for connecting the space in front of the piston 26 with the space in rear of the guide slide 21 so as to equalize the pressure at these points when the rotor is in the position shown in Figure 3 for when the parts are in this position a pressure is formed in front of the piston and a vacuum in rear of the slide member 21 but this port will connect these spaces together and thus equalize thefluid in these two spaces. Also, the exhaust ports 23 and 24 are of such a width as to extend .due to the abolishment of the crank and rod on Also note that the leverage the ordinary engine. is always at a maximum, whereas on the ordinary engine, the leverage is at the variance due to the different positions of the crank in relation to the position of the piston during the firing stroke.

Another appealing factor is'the simplicity of thistype of motor which has only two main bearings as compared to the main bearings, rod bearimzs, pin bearings, cam-shaft bearings, etc., on the ordinary type engine, thus completely eliminating many moving parts. As many cylinders as might be desired could be lined up and synchronized for power use.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A rotary motor of the class described comprising a circular casing, a rotor eccentrically arranged therein, shafts connected to the sides of the rotor and journaled in the ends of the casing, said rotor having a pair of oppositely arranged and radial slots therein, a piston slidably arranged in one slot, a guide member slidably arranged in the other slot, spring means for forcing the piston and guide member outwardly, members supported for rocking movement in the ends of the piston and guide member and having grooves in their outer faces which contact the inner circumference of the casing, a valve forming band having one end connected to the rocking member of the piston and its other end slidably arranged in the rocking member of the guide member with said valve member contacting the inner circcumference of the casing, a combustion chamber in communication with the interior of the casing, an exhaust port in the casing, the entrance of the combustion chamber into the casing being controlled by the valve member, means for introducing an explosive mixture into the combustion chamber, and means for igniting the mixture.

2. In a rotary motor of the class described, a casing, a combustion chamber connected therewith, said oasing having an inlet port placing the combustion chamber in communication with the interior of the casing, said casing having an exhaust portlocated an appreciable distance from the inlet port, a rotor eccentrically arranged in the casing and having radial oppositely arranged slots therein, a piston slidably arranged in one slot, a guide member slidably arranged in the other slot, spring means for forcing the piston and guide member outwardly, said piston and said guide member each having a substantially semi-circular groove in its outer end, a block of substantially semi-circular shape in cross section in each groove and supported for rocking movement therein, the outer face of each block having a notch therein, a valve forming band having one end fitting in the notch of the block of the piston and fastened therein, the other end portion of the band passing for sliding movement through the notch of the other block, that part of the valve member which passes over the inlet port closing such port, means for introducing an explosive mixture into the combustion chamber including a valve, means for operating the valve by the movement of the rotor, and means for firing the explosive means.

3. In a rotary motor of the class described, a. casing, a combustion chamber connected therewith, said casing having an inlet port placing the combustion chamber in communication with the interior of the casing, saidcasing having an exhaust 'portlocated an appreciable distance from the inlet port, a rotor eccentrically arranged in the casing and having radial oppositely arranged slots therein, a piston slidably arranged in one slot, a guide member slidabiy arranged in the other slot, spring means for forcing the piston and guide member outwardly, said piston and said guide member each having a substantially semi-circular groove in its outer end, a block of substantially semi-circular shape in cross section in each groove and supported for rocking movement therein, the outer face oi each block having a notch therein, 'a valve forming hand having one end fitting in the notch 02 the block of the piston and fastened therein, the other end portion of the band passing for sliding movement through the notch of the other block, that part of the valve member which passes over the inlet port closing such port, means for introducing an explosive mixture into the combustion chamber including a valve, means for operating the valve by the movement of the rotor, means for firing the explosive mixture, and that part of the rotor between the piston and the guide member having a groove in its circumference for receiving the band when the band is pressed inwardly by engaging a portion of the inner circumference of the casing.

DON FESS. 

